Building construction



May 28, 1935. G. R. COLLINS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 1o, 19:53

2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 3mm/tofs GEORGE COLL/NS May 28 1935- .ca R. coLLlNs l 2,002,934

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April l0, 1953 2 Sheets-Shea*l 2 gmentoz Cil Patented May 28, 1935 y 'Inu'lmirn'o.,V ooNsalperrony ,i v George R'. Collins, Kansas City, Mo.l Y y Application Aprilrl, 1933, Serial NQ "665,428

The present' invention relates to an improved building Vconstruction, especially adapted for buildings or other'permanent structures,` located inareas which are subjected to` earthquakes and the like.

' Heretofore, irreparable damage has kbeen done to buildings located in areas which are frequently sub-jectedy from-time totime to earth disturbances such as earthquakes and the like and it is one of the objects of the rpresent invention toprovideV a building construction which will Vovercome this difhculty. r

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a structure which will positively prevent damage to buildings during earthquakes and other ground disturbances, which may be incorporated in the building during the construction thereof, or applied to an old erected building.

The present invention contemplates the provision upon the top surface of any type of foundation, o-f a nat, smooth metallic surface secured thereto on which there is placed a plurality of spaced ball bearings on which rests the bottom of the building which has secured on its underneath side a similar flat smooth metallic surface to the end that upon the moving, swaying, or quivering of the foundation due to an earth disturbance, such as an earthquake or the like, the building will remain in its normal upright position, undamaged or injured, from such shocks or disturbances.

Other objects and advantages, including simplicity of design, low cost of manufacture and durability, Will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which corresponding parts are designated by similar reference numerals,

Figure l is a front elevational' View, partly in section of a building embodying the principle of n construction of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of a portion of a foundation showing the lower plate in position thereon, v

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view partly in section of a building showing the manner in which the plates are secured to the foundation and the lower portion of a building with the ball bearings in position therebetween,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of one form of foundation which may beY employed and showing the manner in which the plates are secured thereto,

Figure 51 is ai perspective V`'view of one fc'irmfofv plate which may be employed, Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view partly in sectionof` the lower portion oi-a building partly in sectionfshowing" a4v modified form-ofplate securedthereto,

Figure 71' isa perspective' view of "theplat'es sl'lovvirrinFigure6=,-1`,r f f f 'I- f Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view partly in section of a building partly in section showing a further modified form of plate, Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of',` the type of plate used in the construction shown in Figure 8, Y VVFigure 10 is a fragmentary frontelevationalv View of a building partly in section showing the invention applied to a different type of building,

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an contiguously arranged, U-shapedin crosssecf tion plates I6, by means of the screw threaded bolts I8. These plates are constructed of steel or any other hard metal. As clearly shown in Fig- -ure 3, there is securely fastened a plurality of v ure 3, a plate 20 of similar construction is securely fastened to the underside of the building I4 and, interposed between the opposed surfaces v of the plate there are arranged a plurality vof spaced ball ybearings 22, the inner opposed surfaces of the plate are smooth to permit of the free rolling of the ball bearings 22. It is to be noted in this connection that the dimension of the plate vand the ball bearing can be determined by the type and weight of the building construction.

there is securely fastened strips 26 which cover the openings Y24 between thertwo metallic plates' I6 to 20 to prevent dust, rain, dirt and the like plate IG are of such length asto permitof the free rolling and moving of the balls.

on lthe sides of the building adjacent thepiates, l

Upon the occurrence of an earth disturbance such as an earthquake or the like, the ground will quiver or shake and quickly move the foundation of the building to the dotted position illustrated in Figure 3 and consequently due to the inertia of the building I4 the ,balls 22 willV freely roll ongthe smooth surfaces of the plates, leaving the building construction in an upright, perpendicular position during the continuance or progress of this disturbance. Earth disturbances, such as earthquakesorthe like have been found,v even during their greatest shocks, to move the ground not more than three or four inches and'` consequently the travel'of the ball bearings between the vplates will be only for a short distance.

Furthermore, the space betweenthe ball bearings may be greater than the diameter 'of the v` bearings to the end that' a movement, of the foundation due to the earth disturbance. will permit of the free rolling of the balls ink any div 'rection, without disturbing .theupright position provide a smooth, flat surface, the apertures 30 in the plate are countersunk permitting the upper surface of the head thereof to be iiush with the plane surface of the plate.

As illustrated in Figure 8 the inner surface of the plates defined by the upstanding arms 3I may beslightly curved as at 32 Vto present a smoother surface to permit of the balls 29 to move freely.

Or if so desired, as shown in Figures 6 and 10, the plates 38 may be perfectly flat and smooth instead of being provided with the upstanding ball retaining arms. -They are secured in the same manner as the other plates by means of the lscrew bolts I8. f

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

InV a building construction having a foundation and a building thereon, plates secured to the upper side of said foundation, oppositely disposed plates onv the underside of said building, ball bearings disposed, between said plates permitting of the free movement of either said building or said foundation and a strip disposed adjacent the outside of the building over the opening between said plate-s for preventing the entrance of foreign elements between the plates.

GEORGE R. coLmNs. 

